I’ve told you before that spaghetti squash is wonderful in place of pasta. I also enjoy adding it in so you can have some with pasta for a heartier meal.

Most people want to know how to cook since it’s a squash. And it looks scary. Plus, if you’re used to cutting up butternut squash, you may think all winter squash is difficult.  It’s not so.  It does help if you have the right tools.

There’s two ways to use spaghetti squash. You can cook and use the strands in place of pasta like with a carbonara sauce. Or you can bake things into the squash like Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash.

Cooking a Spaghetti Squash

I’m going to talk about how to cook the squash if you’re going to use it in a recipe. If you’re going to use a recipe where you put the ingredients in, and then bake it, don’t cook the squash first.

I personally use an Instant Pot multi-function cooker. You can pressure cook a whole squash without cutting into it for 6-10 minutes depending upon the size. The skin then just peels off, and you can scoop out the seeds. Some people prefer to prick the skin or cut the squash in half before pressure cooking. Find what you’re comfortable with.

You can also use a slow cooker to cook for 4 to 6 hours. It’s a good idea to prick the skin a few times with a fork before putting it in.

If you have a microwave, slice the squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Then put the squash cut side down on damp paper towels. Cover with more damp paper towels and microwave on high for approximately 20 minutes. Then let it sit for ten minutes. And you can scoop out the squash fibers.

Finally, you can bake in an oven.  Cut in half, scoop out the seeds, and put cut side down in a pan with a cup of water. Then bake at 400F for 45-50 minutes.

The important thing to remember is you do not need to skin the squash before cooking.

Make Spaghetti Squash Into Fritters

Here’s a video for a delicious recipe in using the spaghetti squash to make a fritter with spinach.

Turning Spaghetti Squash Into Casserole

You can add the cooked spaghetti squash into a casserole like a frittata or a quiche. It adds in vegetables without seeming like a vegetable. And don’t forget to add in additional vegetables like spinach. Go easy on the cheese. You want just enough for the flavor, but you don’t want it to add in too much fat.

Resources

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